East London Magistrate Twanet Olivier on Wednesday found Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) president Julius Malema guilty of illegally discharging a firearm seven years ago, in an incident that drew national condemnation.
Malema’s former bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, was found not guilty on all charges.
In their defence, both men claimed the gun used by Malema was a toy.
The state pursued charges under provisions of the Firearms Control Act that criminalise not only the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition but also their reckless use in public spaces.
Prosecutors said Malema’s alleged conduct on stage posed a danger to thousands of supporters gathered at the stadium.
The charges stem from events on July 28, 2018, when Malema allegedly fired am alleged rifle into the air while standing on stage alongside Snyman at the EFF’s fifth-anniversary celebration rally at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, a township near East London.
Olivier took two full days and part of Wednesday morning to read her lengthy judgment, which went into painstaking detail about how she came to the decision.
This is a developing story.